Welcome to Friends of American Writers
FAW has concluded another excellent year culminating in celebrating our Literature Award winners. Be sure to check out the books of our FAW Literature Award Winning Authors, and join FAW for the upcoming year in September.
The FAW 2024 - 2025 Literature Award Winners
Adult Literature Awards
MICHELLE EPHRAIM for Green World: A Tragicomic Memoir of Love & Shakespeare (University of Massachusetts Press) $2,500
ROBERTA HARTLING GATES for Number 12 Rue Sainte-Catherine: and Other Stories, (Running Wild Press) $2,500
Young People's Literature Awards
JOHN SCHU for Louder Than Hunger, (Candlewick Press) $2,500
NADIA AHMED for The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Everything, (Beaming Books) $2,500
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President's Message May 2024
The 2024/2025 season for Friends of American Writers has been very successful. Our mission "to study American literature, encourage high standards and promote literary ideals around American writers" was accomplished by the following.
I wish to thank our membership for their generosity by supporting these programs through the Foundation Fund, the Patrons Fund and the Children's Book Program. Additionally, our monthly luncheon programs were very successful and well attended. Thank you all for your participation ad support for our organization and I hope you all have a wonderful summer. See you next season! ~ Karen Burnett
FAW always welcomes your contribution to our Patrons Fund. Click HERE to donate to the Patrons Fund
Our mission shall be to encourage new, talented writers associated with the Midwest and to promote the arts, especially literature, among our members.
Friends of American Writers celebrated 100 years in 2022. Join FAW and help continue the mission of excellence in writing.
Friends of American Writers (FAW) was established in 1922 by Mrs. John Bohr of Oak Park and a group of literary minded women in the sixth district of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs. Friends of American Writers was legally organized on April 3, 1922 at the Oak Park Library with the purpose of specifically fostering good literature. The tradition of giving awards to outstanding contemporary writers began only seven months after the founding of FAW.
Over the years, FAW has honored and celebrated the accomplishments of many authors, by recognition at a Awards Luncheon and a monetary award. Among the many emerging adult authors recognized over the years are Sara Paretsky, Jane Smiley, Toni Morrison, Harry Mark Petrakis, Carl Sandburg, Kevin Fenton, Chad Harbach, Sara Gruen, Gillian Flynn, and Ruta Sepetys. We hope to see some of our new winners added to this list of outstanding and well recognized authors.
In 1960, FAW introduced awards for Juvenile Literature authors. Clifford Hicks won the first award for First Boy on the Moon. Recent winners range from delightful picture books to edgy YA novels.
Additionally, through the FAW Foundation Fund, students pursuing advanced degrees in writing are given recognition and cash awards to offset tuition.
FAW membership
Do you enjoy reading, writing, or supporting new writers who are starting their career? Join Friends of American Writers for one of our excellent programs at The Fortnightly of Chicago. Monthly meetings features a three-course luncheon and an interesting program. We hold a book group, Readers & Reviewers, which meets to discuss a selected novel. The Literary committees which select our award winning authors are always looking for new members to participate in the selection process. Membership for the full year is $50.00 . Download the membership application and send it in today. Our programs are open to members and their guests, but if you don't know a member and would enjoy trying a meeting, contact the Membership Chairman, and we can arrange for you to attend a meeting.
Membership Chairman: Kimberly Swartz at info@fawchicago.org
| President | Karen Burnett |
| Vice President | Elizabeth Bodie Gross |
| Secretary | Karen Pulver |
| Treasurer | Trish Ronan |
| Newsletter Editor | Robin McGinnity Connelly |
| Foundation Fund Chair | Vivian Mortensen |
| Foundation Fund Trustees | Christine Spatara, Ida Hagman |
| Literature Awards | Carrie Brenner |
| Young People's Awards | Angela Gall |
| Luncheon - Social | Carol Eshaghy |
| Membership & Directory | Kim Swartz |
| Programs | Sean Eshaghy |
| Revisions | Beth Gross |
| Sustaining Clubs | Helene Madsen (interim) |
| Phone Reservations | Karen Klatt and Kathy Quaid |
| Website Manager | Karen Baker |
| Board Member at Large | Helene Madsen |
Board meetings are held at The Fortnightly at 10:30 a.m. the mornings of the luncheons.
